PLAYER NOTES:
--C Brook Lopez suffered through a dreadful 1-of-12 shooting night in Orlando on Friday. But coach Lawrence Frank kept his faith in the young center, explaining how much tougher it is this season. "No one is going to play great (every game), and let's face it, it's going to be harder for Brook right now," Frank said. But Lopez came back Saturday and has more field goals, two, in the first 58 seconds of the game than he had Friday night. Lopez finished with 17 points and nine rebounds at Miami.
--G Rafer Alston, in his eight starts for Devin Harris, has averaged 39 minutes. His career high was 38.5 minutes in 2005-06 with Houston. But the Nets have been strapped at the point with Harris and Keyon Dooling out. "Rafer, he's a basketball-oholic," coach Lawrence Frank said. "Am I playing him too much? Yeah, you could probably make that argument. The guy loves to be out there. Did he get a little bit tired? Sure. But he didn't say a peep about it." Alston had 10 points and three assists Saturday.
--F/C Sean Williams had sat out four games, including one in which the Nets only had seven available bodies. Yet he positively impacted Saturday's loss at Miami with hustle and determination. "I'm a professional, and I've got to be ready to play. Go out there and do what you do," said Williams, who scored 12 points in 15 minutes.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Courtney Lee hopes to return Nov. 17 from a groin strain that has kept him out of 4 1/2 games.
--F Yi Jianlian is out with a sprained right knee. He is expected to miss up to another month.
--G Devin Harris missed his eighth consecutive game Nov. 14 with a strained right groin. He is doing light workouts, but there is no timetable for his return.
--F Jarvis Hayes remains out since straining his hamstring in the season opener. He is doing shooting but is sidelined indefinitely.
--G Keyon Dooling (hip surgery rehab) underwent an arthroscopic procedure after last season. He is working his way back and has targeted a mid- to late-November return.
--F/C Tony Battie has been fitted for a brace on his right knee after receiving a second opinion. There is no timetable for a return. He has been out since the preseason.